Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Roko Blažević is yet another male artist for Tel Aviv, have we ever had so many compared to female artists? His song is The Dream and it's written by Eurovision veterans Jacques Houdek and Charlie Mason who has co-written songs like Rise like a Phoenix, Here for you and Beauty never lies . Check out full results and performances videos here and the Croatian version below:

This week sour grapes comes from Croatian Jacques Houdek. He's been complaining with media the other ex-Yogo juries didn't give him enough points, not being "my friend" and the lack of their support costing him even a better final placement. According him the lack of support is due to the fact are just bitter he was the only one who made it to the final. In one word: jealousy. Ok..... ... but no worries. He has been awarded some trophy somewhere as the Best singer..... Sunstroke Project caused a media storm at home when they rushed to Moscow first instead of home, and even kissed the hand of sacked Julia Samaylova. It's worth remembering two of the guys are of Moldovan Russian minority and not so well seen in Moldova. Especially when they refer to speak Russian instead of (broken) Romanian/Moldovan....  Kristian Kostov is "Finally back at home!". Moscow that is. So much for Bulgaria...... .Isaiah's European promo tour contnued ...

Artists are getting ready for the Red Carpet and the Welcome Party starting shortly....

Feel need to confess your sins? Jacques Houdek is listening.....

Jacques & Jacques. And the oddest duet in the Eurovision history maybe. He starts back turned to the audience talking to the camera and then keeps alternating his camera angles depending which voice he is using, even his jacket is divided into smoking and a leather jacket. He is also in the backdrop singing to himself. Everything is large from the images to stripes in his pants.... the strings break is hysterical. Then his backing singers enter the stage and pyros explode followed by rain of fire that makes sunflowers grow. I wonder how tv-audience seeing and hearing this for the first time will react? Will they be too confused to vote, or will they do just that in all it's absurdity? But somehow it works and he doesn't miss a note. I don't think I will never listen to this again after the final, yes because I think this will make it, but it's a curious addition to the long list of weird acts in Eurovision...

Robin has been filming his postcard.....  Norma John were in Ukrainian morning tv and tasted some local food..... Imri met some photograpers.... Hovig performed in Eurovision Village Brendan continued with sightseeing Jacques met the ambassador and had so much fun (not) Alpine reunion Norma John got sunstroke Kristian, Demy and Hovig partied away at the Moldovan party (a lot of exlusive videos and photos coming up tomorrow so stay tuned!) Greek dancers .... Francesco Gabbani entered the Italian album charts as #1

Oh dear. Croatia's own Pavarotti duets with himself, his three backing singers are moving in unison, there's a mad violinist, crazy cellist, sunflowers are growing and the rainbow appears in the end as icing on the cake while pyros lit the stage all the time All we miss are unicorns dancing and some fairies falling from the rooftops with a confetti rain. This is so kitchy and corny it's certaily qualifying.... and at this point I'm not sure if I can really care anymore and just give in....

Belarus review Croatia review Portugal review Ukraine review

One more music video for the edition: Croatia. Isn't it magical how his voice changes  once he wears the glasses! The video features also Emanuel Pavon, who will join him on stage in Kyiv for the violin solo.

Pictured the national flower of Croatia, iris Jacques Houdek (36) was internally chosen to represent his country with My friend , a song he co-wrote with Tony Roberth Malm, Siniša Reljić, Arjana Kunštek, Fabrizio Laucella and Ines Prajo. Željko, who likes to be called Jacques, is a familiar name in Eurovision world and in the Balcan area. He has studied in the Berklee Collage of Music in California, and in France, Italy and Greece. He has tried to get to Eurovision many times before failing to win the national final: 2002-2006 every year. Then again in 2011 when he lost in the final match to Daria Kinzer to sing Lahor/Celebrate . He has also tried his luck in the UK in Open Mic UK and X Factor. He has been recording artist since 2004 and has collected a pile of silver, gold and platinum discs. But music isn't his only interest. He has been involved in politics supporting conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and later supported a populist mayor candidate. Afterw...

Internally selected Jacques Houdek has also released his entry for Croatia for Eurovision 2017, My friend . No comment.... 

Jacques Houdek (35)  finally makes it to Eurovision, after trying six times in national final since 2002,  he has been internally selected by HRT this year.  He has studied in Berklee Collage of music in Califormia before taking part in various festivals and winning awards in native Croatia. Ten albums to his credit (last one from 2012 though). Lately he has been one of The Voice mentors.  His entry will be revealed later. 

Croatia didn't leave us much to choose from with their selection process this year when Dora was reduced to a talent show. Daria Kinzer and Jacques Houdek each sung three songs in the final and the most plastic of them all won in its most plastic version, or Daria's Celebrate . The original version Lahor was actually pretty nice but somehow they managed to rip it off from all originality before Germany. No doubt Daria fit better for this final version. The runner up was Stotinama godina by Jacques. That would have been a worthy entry as well with its drama and Croatia could have a bit closer to reaching the final. Maybe.

Croatia - Daria Kinzer - Celebrate **** This one went from Lahor by Jacques Houdek to Daria to Break a leg and finally Celebrate . I think I liked a bit more the original softer Lahor/Break a leg version. I didn't go crazy for this one at first but it has grown to be one of my favourites, a good mood old fashioned Eurovision entry. But as I have said before it's will battle it out with Hungary and may lose. Qualifier: With a lot of luck. Albania - Aurela Gaçe - Feel the passion ** Albania often reworks its songs so much you hardly recognise them anymore after the work out but this time Feel the passion and Kenga ime sound pretty much the same only underlining the fact the English version has lost the feeling of the song. To me it sounds pretty boring now and the stars went down. Aurela though will propably give all on stage and judging the preview video will look stunning. Will it be enough to bring it to the final? Maybe not. Qualifier: Will struggle .  Belarus - Anas...

Jacques Houdek and Daria Kinzer both performed three songs in the final and one song for each was picked through televote and jury for the superfinal and look, both got Lahor ! Even if in televote Stotiname godima won by both if I understood right??!! Now the second round of televoting for the singer.... and it's Daria! In English! Break a leg! Jacques Houdek: Jos ima nas (jury 16 points) = 1 + 1 from televote = 2 Lahor (jury 29 points) = 3 + 2 from televote = 5 Stotiname godima (jury 27 points) = 2 + 3 from televote = 5 Daria Kinzer: Jos ima nas (jury 17 points) = 1 + 1 from televote = 2 Lahor (jury 29 points) = 3 + 2 from televote = 5 Stotiname godima (jury 23 points) = 2 + 3 from televote = 5